a colouring book featuring artwork by ann christy, mel

A colouring book featuring artwork by

Ann Christy, Mel Freeman, Joan Harding, Aunty Rochelle Patten and Ruby Wyatt-Carter.

Carpet Python by Ann Christy and Ruby Wyatt-Carter

�e G.R.A.I.N. Store, in collaboration with the Moira Shire acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on

which our organisations are located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.

�e G.R.A.I.N. Store and the Moira Shire are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationaships to the land, waters and seas and their rich

contribution to society.

�e team behind this publication would also like to thank and acknowledge the Yorta Yorta Nations Aboriginal Corporation for their

support and assistance with the Yorta Yorta language words used.We hope that this book can be used as a resource to support the

incredible work already done and continuing to be done in the area of Yorta Yorta language.

�e G.R.A.I.N. Store and the Moira Shire would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the contributing artists

and designers who have made the publication possible:Ann Christy, Mel Feeman, Joan Harding, Aunty Rochelle Patten,

Kristen Retallick and Ruby Wyatt-Carter.

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Ann ChristyCalling Picola home, Ann takes most of her inspiration from the outdoors, whether it be a leaf on the ground or a bird in flight. She has enjoyed sketching and painting since her teenage years and with watercolour being Ann’s preferred medium, she also enjoys working with graphite, charcoal and coloured pencils. Ann is an active member of the Nathalia Art Group.

Mel FreemanBased in Nathalia, art has always been a part of Mel’s life. Using her surrounding environment and close observation of nature, the bush and the Murray River are her favourite areas for inspiration. With pencil her favoured medium, Mel also enjoys experimenting with different mediums such as biros and various paints.

Joan HardingHaving grown up around Nathalia, Joan has been creating art for the past 30 years. Her energetic paintings communicate a visual connection to her environment. Predominantly working with watercolours, Joan also explores the use of pencil in her intricately detailed botanical work. Her love of animals is clear in the passionate and playful way she shares stories about her ‘family of antechinus’ and other creatures she has ‘known’ over the years.

Aunty Rochelle PattenA Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba Elder from Mooroopna, Rochelle’s artwork shows a deep connection to country, culture and family. Nominated for the prestigious Ros Bower Memorial Award, Rochelle’s work has been exhibited nationally. It is through their art and love of nature that Rochelle and Joan Harding share a long friendship.

Kristen RetallickAfter growing up in Katunga, Kristen studied Graphic Design at the University of Ballarat then worked in Australia and the UK. She taught art at secondary level before returning to the Goulburn Valley region in 2017 and starting as Manager and Curator at The G.R.A.I.N. Store. Kristen designed and managed this project, but her arts practice, which is predominantly painting, explores various aspects of her surrounding environment.

Ruby Wyatt-CarterNow living in Shepparton, but growing up both in Melbourne and Numurkah, Ruby has been making art for as long as she can remember. From the moment she could pick up a pencil, she has enjoyed drawing. Ruby is inspired by musicians, movies, mythology, animals and herself. Although drawing is her main medium, she has also experimented with oil and acrylic painting, textiles, mixed media, digital and paper collage.

Sulphur-crestedCockatoo

Yorta YortaDjarring

I am covered in white feathers with a yellow crest, grey feet and a ____________ bill.

I am highly intelligent and can live up to 40 ____________ in the wild.

I am very ____________ and have a creaky sounding screech.

match these words to the sentences - | black | years | loud |

Original artwork by Ann Christy

Drawing practice

Use Joan Harding’s drawing to guide your colouring to create tone and form, which is what makes your drawings look three dimensional.

Original artwork by Joan Harding

Djarring/Cockatoo

Birranga/Sugar Glider

Borpa/Murray Crayfish

Girriwa/Goanna

Wowa/Rakali

Draw a line to connect the names of thecreatures to the correct pictures

River Red Gums

Yorta YortaBiyala

I can be seen along many watercourses across inland ____________ and enjoy regular flooding.

I have mostly smooth ___________, mottled in shades of grey, brown, cream and other colours.

I have curved leaves and white flowers in____________.

match these words to the sentences -| Australia | bark | Summer |

Original artwork by Mel Freeman

SCOCKATOOALFSME

MUVDBHKADLRDRUQ

QENQSYOMNIILERS

XEKIGNITVNRIDRG

XCSUHCSECAALIAC

HZHPRCREDRSOLYB

TMKOCREODRPJGCB

GRBOEVCTQULRRRV

BAODUYRKNBAEAAU

TKGUAJRFHATLGYF

YUGRTJLLTKYTUFQ

MLRVJCWAIOPTSIS

DUMAMOOOWOUAUSE

MELTRUTDOKSWEHA

PHPEEKANSTEPRAC

ANTECHINUSCOCKATOO

KOOKABURRAMURRAY COD

OWL

RIVER RED GUMTROUT COD

WATTLECARPET SNAKE

GOANNA

MICROBATMURRAY CRAYFISH

PLATYPUSSUGAR GLIDER

TURTLE

Loving Moira’s Natives - Word Search

Wattle

Yorta YortaGanga

Australia’s floral emblem is the ____________ Wattle.

There are 950 species of wattle found in ____________.

I have a range of different flowers, but the mostcommon is bright ____________ in colour.

match these words to the sentences - | Golden | yellow | Australia |

Original artwork by Joan Harding


White-faced Heron

Yorta YortaDjunda

I am light blue-grey in colour with a white ____________.

I have a long, slim neck with a ____________ grey bill.

My diet includes fish, ____________ and amphibians.

match these words to the sentences - | pointed | face | insects |

Long-neckedTurtle

Yorta YortaBayadherra

Snacking on tadpoles, fish, crustaceans and insects,I can walk up to one ____________ a day for food.

I live in slow moving water such as farm dams, _______________ and lakes.

I don’t have any ____________.

match these words to the sentences -| teeth | kilometre | rivers |

Original artwork by Rochelle Patten (Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba)

Kookaburra

Yorta YortaWigilupka

I am one of the largest members of the Kingfisher family and most recognised from my ____________ call.

I mostly feed on insects and worms but may also eat small ____________, mammals, frogs and reptiles.

match these words to the sentences -| snakes | laughing |


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Join the dots



Possum Yorta YortaBana

I am nocturnal which means I am most active at ____________.

I am a ____________ and carry my young in apouch, but also sometimes on my back.

match these words to the sentences -| night | marsupial |


Sea Eagles

Yorta YortaGurranyinI spend hours on end perched in a tree or soaring over ____________.

I have long, broad wings, feathered legs and a ____________ tail.

I am known to prey on fish, turtles, snakes, birds and ____________.

match these words to the sentences - | short | waterways | mammals |

Sugar Glider

Yorta YortaBirranga

Original artwork by Mel Freeman and Joan Harding

I love sugary food like sap and ____________.

I am nocturnal which means I am most active at __________.

I love to ____________ both plants and insects therefore I am omnivorous.

I use my ____________ to carry leaves to line my nest, which is in a hole in a tree.

match these words to the sentences - | tail | nectar | eat | night |

Antechinus

Yorta YortaBarreta

Australia has ____________ species of Antechinus and we are also known as marsupial mice.

We love eating spiders, ________________ and other insects.

We nest in tree hollows, coming down to the ground to forage in ____________ litter but the Dusky and Swamp Antechinus make burrows in the ground and fallen trees.

match these words to the sentences - | cockroaches | ten | leaf |


Murray Crayfish

Yorta YortaBorpa

When I am an adult I grow to 20-30cm in ____________.

I feed on decaying plants but will also eat dead ____________.

Females lay 500 to 1000 ____________ in late autumn which they carry under their tails.

match these words to the sentences - | length | eggs | animals |Original artwork by Ann Christy

Platypus

Yorta YortaWanagapipuwaI am a mammal but unlike most mammalsI lay ____________ instead of giving birth to live young.

I use my snout to dig for yabbies, insect larvae, ____________and freshwater shrimp.

I live in burrows in the banks of rivers, creeks andponds surrounded by native ____________.

match these words to the sentences - | eggs | vegetation | worms |


Rakali (water rat)

Yorta YortaWowa

I live in the banks of rivers and lakes and feed on insects, fish, ____________, yabbies, frogs and water birds and their eggs.

I grow to around 35cm plus my tail has a white tip and my belly colour can be cream or ____________.

My back feet are partly webbed and paddle-like for ____________.

match these words to the sentences - | orange | swimming | mussels |


Goanna Yorta Yorta Girriwa I am also known as a Lace _______________.

I spend much of my time in __________ or foraging on the ground.

I feed on insects, small mammals, _______________, nestling birds and eggs.

match these words to the sentences - | trees | Monitor | lizards |


Trout cod

Yorta YortaBangami

I am an ____________ native freshwater fish.

I am closely related to the ____________ cod, I am on the endangered species list.

I feed on other fish, yabbies, ____________ and freshwater shrimp as well as water insects.

match these words to the sentences - | Murray | crayfish | Australian |Original artwork by Ann Christy


Microbats

Yorta YortaMumiyanga

I love eating insects – especially from Summer to Autumn so I can fatten up for a cold ____________.

I use my tail or wings to catch large insects and carry them to my ____________ site.

My ____________ are used rather than my eyes for seeing. By producing a sound, I listen to see how long it takes to bounce back from my surrounds – telling me how ____________ the object is.

match these words to the sentences - | feeding | Winter | close | ears |


Yabby

Yorta YortaGanuka

I live in swamps, streams, rivers, reservoirs and farm ____________.

I am an important food for ____________ Cod.

match these words to the sentences - | Murray | dams |

Yorta Yorta

BanaBangamiBarretaBayadherraBirrangaBiyalaBorpaDjarringDjundaGangaGanukaGirriwaGurranyinMamelMumiyangaNadjirrNgarringWanagapipuwaWigilupkaWowa

English

PossumTrout CodAntechinusLong Necked TurtleSugar GliderRed Gum TreeCrayfishWhite CockatooHeronWattleCrayfish (small)KookaburraGoannaCarpet SnakeBatHeron (young)Black CockatooPlatypusEagleWater Rat

English

AntechinusBatBlack CockatooCarpet SnakeCrayfishCrayfish (small)EagleGoannaHeronHeron (young)KookaburraLong Necked TurtlePlatypusPossumRed Gum TreeSugar GliderTrout CodWater RatWattleWhite Cockatoo

Yorta Yorta

BarretaMumiyangaNgarringMamelBorpaGanukaWigilupkaGurranyinDjundaNadjirrGirriwaBayadherraWanagapipuwaBanaBiyalaBirrangaBangamiWowaGangaDjarring

Language words provided by Yorta Yorta Nations Aboriginal Corporation

Loving Moira’s Natives was a collaboration between the Moira Shire,�e G.R.A.I.N. Store and local visual artists and designers with support from the Yorta Yorta Nations Aboriginal Corporation. �is book was made to help young people of the Moira Shire learn more about their local �ora and fauna, as well as the role of artists in their community. �e accompanying exhibition ran at �e G.R.A.I.N. Store in 2020 and was an opportunity for the contributing artists to exhibit some of their original artworks that were adapted for the colouring pages in this book. �e team behind this project worked together to create a high quality publication.

Moira Shire Map

a colouring book featuring artwork by ann christy, mel

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